online
adjectiveadverbverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɒnlaɪn//
- United Kingdom//ˈɔnlɑjn//
- Canada/[ˈɒnlaɪn]/
- //ˈɑnlaɪn//
- //ˈɔnlaɪn//
Of a system: connected (generally electrically) to a larger network. Of a generator or power plant: connected to the grid.
adjective
- 1
Of a system: connected (generally electrically) to a larger network. Of a generator or power plant: connected to the grid.
- 2
Of a system: connected (generally electrically) to a larger network. Of a computer: actively connected to the Internet or to some other communications service.
Is this modem online?
- 3
Available over, or delivered from, the Internet.
In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result. If the bumf arrived electronically, the take-up rate was 0.1%. And for online adverts the “conversion” into sales was a minuscule 0.01%.
The online world was meant to be an open system but has become dominated by huge corporations.
I prefer to read online newspapers.
- 4
Connected to the Internet.
I'll be online tonight, so I'll be able to reply to your email.
- 5
Available on a computer system, even if not networked.
Press the F1 key to access the online help.
The program comes with an online manual, supplied on compact disc.
- 6
Of a system: active, particularly building facilities (such as power) or a factory or power plant.
The power is online.
Once this factory comes online, it will double car production in our country!
- 7
slangImmersed in Internet culture. (Usually modified by an intensifier such as extremely or terminally)
terminally online
To borrow an idiom from the extremely online, late Godard is a mood.
“If we were doing a family vlog inside the house, I would not want my feet in the video. At all.” He would wear socks. He is very online. He sees the conversations.
Etymology
1950, from on + line.
adverb
- 1
While online; while in a running or active state, or connected to the Internet.
He works online.
Well, things are getting pretty serious right now. I mean, we chat online for, like, two hours every day so I guess you could say things are gettin' pretty serious.
verb
- 1
To bring (a system, etc.) online; to promote to an active or running state.
The output in Listing 8-2 shows your disk group status prior to onlining the disks, the commands to online your disks, and the status after onlining.
Forms
- comparative
- more online
- superlative
- most online
- past tense
- onlined
- past participle
- onlined
- present participle
- onlining
- third person singular
- onlines
online · Of a system: connected (generally electrically) to a larger network. Of a generator or power plant: connected to the grid.
only · Alone in a category.onstage · On the part of a stage that is visible to the audience.onto · Arriving upon or on top of (speaking of a physical or…